For example, this image (click to enlarge) shows the difference between a silver umbrella and a sun (gold) umbrella. There are dozens of other choices in the menus ranging from snoots to just plain lamps.

Recently, I added a light controlling gadget to my bag of tricks, the Gary Fong Lightsphere 2. I was finding that I was taking a lot of flash pictures of my daughter inside, and wasn't happy with the quality of the regular flash, or even bouncing my Speedlight SB-600 off the ceiling, so I looked around for another option and am giving the Lightsphere a try.

Here are a couple of different images taken with the different light sources.

This one was taken with the flash from my D200.

This one with the Lightsphere - I find it quite a bit more pleasant overall, with better balance and softer highlights.

I'm still just a few dozen shots into the Lightsphere, so we'll see where it goes.

Comparing 11 of the most popular consumer models, he singles out the Canon A630 as having the best picture quality and the Fuji FinePix F30 (my point and shoot of choice) as having the best low-light pictures.

Those steps take you through the kinds of questions you should ask and things you should think about before you buy your next camera.

For example...

6. Optical Zooms are King

Not all ‘zooms’ are created equal.

When you’re looking at different models of digital cameras you’ll often
hear their zooms talked about in two ways. Firstly there’s the ‘optical
zoom’ and then there’s the ‘digital zoom’.

I would highly recommend that you only take into
consideration the ‘optical zoom’ when making a decision about which
camera to buy. Digital zooms simply enlarge the pixels in your shot
which does make your subject look bigger, but it also makes it look
more pixelated and your picture ‘noisier’ (like when you go up close to
your TV).

Lowepro has added a new bag to their excellent SlingShot sling bag series - the SlingShot 300AW. Larger than the 100 (which I use) and the 200, the 300AW is alrge enough for a full-size pro SLR and 5-6 lenses.

As Lowepro puts it...

Carried comfortably on the back, it easily rotates to the front so you
can get to your camera quickly. The SlingShot 300 AW holds an Pro SLR
with zoom lens attached 5-6 extra lenses, cables and accessories and
has a full access lid to make loading it a snap. This feature-rich bag
also includes a built-in memory card pouch, micro fiber LCD cloth and
two generous organizer pockets.

These sling bags are my favorite style, and really do make a difference over backpacks, shoulder bags or waistpacks, I think. With the 300AW Lowepro now has the sizes for just about any sort of photographer. At about $100, well worth checking out.

Lots of terrific new digital SLR cameras out these days, and here's another on the hit parade - the Pentax K100D.

Unlike some of the other new digital SLRs, this model only has 6 megapixels, but as they say, it's not what you have, it's how you use it, and the K100D makes the most of its sensor with clear, sharp images.

It also has high-ISO (up to 3200) capabilities and in-camera anti-shake, and can run on AA batteries or CR-V3 lithiums, very useful on trips or other places where AC power isn't readily available.

Lots of very good things said about a camera with a street price just over $600. If that's still a little too much for you, Pentax also makes the K110D - basically the same camera without the in-camera vibration reduction and priced $100 lower.

To summarize their summary:While we're always skeptical when there's high praise across the board,
the E-400 truly seems like a solid offering through and through; its
ease of use (in auto and manual modes), pocket-friendlier size,
"excellent" image quality, and exceptional versatility seemed to
deliver in all the areas that make or break a DSLR.

Check out more of what Engadget and lots of others had to say in their post.